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Artist: Peter Lely (1618 - 1680) (24)

Period: 17th century (3591)

Type: oil paint (473)

Keywords
portraits (1315) | women (1424)

Portrait of a Woman

Circa 1645

Peter Lely (1618 - 1680)

Oil on canvas

Height: 91.4 cm ( canvas); Depth: 6.8 cm ( frame ); Width: 91.5 cm ( frame ); Height: 111.5 cm ( frame ); Width: 62.2 cm ( canvas );

Inscription
Inscription, unsigned

Acquisition (source, method, date)
HM Government (Acceptance in Lieu); allocation; 2010
P.2010.XX.1

About this work
This intimate portrait dates from Lely’s earliest years in England. He moved from the Netherlands to London in 1641 to pursue landscape and history painting. He found, however, that portraits were in greater demand. Here, the unknown sitter is represented in an informal manner. Her garments do not reflect contemporary dress but rather seem drawn from theatrical costume and relate to the taste for pastorals in literature, music and theatre at that period. (Permanent collection label)

This work is not on display
While we make every effort to ensure this information is correct, displays are subject to last-minute changes.

Copyright: © Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to The Samuel Courtauld Trust, The Courtauld Gallery 2010.